Pilkington seeking family fortunes at Coxmoor

Mark Pilkington is keeping it in the family as the Welshman prepares for the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship Final.

Pwllheli Golf Club Assistant Pilkington is set to return to the £32,000 showpiece event which takes place at Coxmoor Golf club in Nottinghamshire between August 2-4.

And the former European Tour professional will be looking to improve on his 33rd place finish last year - after he came 40th in 2015 at Coventry Golf Club - in what will be his final shot at event as he is now coming to the end of his PGA training.

But he does not have far to go for support as his brother Stuart is head professional at the Gwynedd-based club.

And dad John was also a professional player at Nefyn Golf Club.

Pilkington, aged 39, admits it has been a difficult time at Pwllheli after the club’s general manager was hospitalised for six months following a car accident.

But he will head to Coxmoor in optimistic mood: “It’s a goal of mine to win this event, but obviously I haven’t come close in the last couple of years,” he said.

“I’ve been busy at the club, it’s been a difficult time. Me and my brother have been juggling things around and I’ve learned a lot. But I’ll give it a good go at Coxmoor.”

Pilkington decided to opt for the PGA route after playing on Tour and returned to Pwllheli where Stuart has been head professional for around 12 years.

“Stuart’s course director here now and I’ve been heavily involved with the club, I was attached here when I was on Tour - it was quite a long standing thing,” he said.

“To register here as an Assistant has been good and it’s worked well with Stuart who’s been flexible enough to allow me to play some events. We've worked it between us quite well.”

And Pilkington is happy to be under the umbrella of the PGA as he looks to the future: “My dad always told me to join the PGA and I said I didn’t need to with a bit of bravado. But it’s a piece of advice I wish I’d taken now.

“I think the scope of the golf industry is big now - and one qualification that stands out now is a PGA qualification, whether it be in coaching or management,” he added.

“I felt if I wanted to stay in the golf sphere then the PGA was the way to go. I was on the Challenge Tour and you need financial backing and results, it’s tough.”

Josh Mayo (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf) will also be playing at Coxmoor.